LWV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Sacramento County, CA March 7, 2000 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Jimmie R. Yee

Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Sacramento; District 4

This information is provided by the candidate

Jimmie Yee is a native Sacramentan, born in 1934. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and Sacramento High Schools prior to graduating from UC Berkeley in 1956 with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. He holds registrations as both a California Structural Engineer and Civil Engineer. In 1957, he joined the US Army Reserves, Corps of Engineers, and was discharged at the rank of Captain in 1965.

Beginning his professional career in civil service, he worked for CAL TRANS and the State Department of Water Resources between 1956 and 1959. Subsequently, he worked in the private sector until he started his own engineering practice in 1966.

During his 25 years of ownership, Cole/Yee/Schubert and Associates grew to become one of the largest, consulting engineering firms in the Sacramento Valley, providing design services for many trademark buildings in Sacramento, including the original Convention Center, Capitol Bank of Commerce, One City Center, Riverview Plaza, original ARCO Arena, Sacramento International Airport terminal and loading gates, and Sutter General and Sutter Memorial Hospitals, among others.

Prior to the sale of his ownership interest in his firm in 1988, Yee was involved in providing engineering services for hundreds of school, commercial, industrial, manufacturing, hospital, prison, and other public facilities. Since his semi-retirement, he has devoted the majority of his time to public and community service activities, along with occasional employment on projects as an independent engineering consultant.

From 1963, Yee has contributed significant time, energy, and professional expertise to public service commitments. Last year by unanimous vote of the city council, he was appointed Mayor to serve the unexpired term of the late Mayor Joe Serna, Jr. Previously, he was elected to serve two terms as the District 4 representative on the city council. Preceding and during his tenure on the council, Yee has served on numerous governing and advisory bodies. His public service contributions include appointments as:

  • Mayor, City of Sacramento
  • Vice Mayor, City of Sacramento
  • City Councilmember, District 4
  • Chairman, Mayor's Commission on Development
  • Chairman/Member, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
  • Member, Law & Legislation Committee
  • Member, Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization
  • Member, Sacramento Ballpark Authority
  • Member, Sacramento County Disaster Commission
  • Member, Sacramento City Financing Authority
  • Co-Trustee, Crocker Art Musuem
  • Member, Sacramento-West Sacramento 2X2
  • Member, Water Advisory Board
  • Chairman/Member, Personnel & Public Employees Committee
  • Member, American River Water Resources Committee
  • Chairman/Member, Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Commission
  • Chairman/Member, Sacramento Transportation Authority
  • Member, Sacramento-Yolo Port Authority
  • Member, Sacramento City-County Solid Waste Joint Powers Authority
  • Member, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District Board
  • Member, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Board
  • Member, Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor Joint Powers Authority
  • Member, Sacramento City-County Public Library Joint Powers Authority
  • Member, Sacramento Planning Commission
  • Member, Police Community Relations Advisory Committee
  • Member, Sacramento City Civil Service Board
  • Member, Citizens Committee on Police Procedures

Over Yee's career, he has developed and retained many affiliations in his professional field, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, honors, special recognition, and appointments, including:

  • Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Fellow, President, Board of Directors, and Secretary-Treasurer, Structural Engineers Association of Central California
  • Member, Consulting Engineers Association of California
  • Governor's Appointee, California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors
  • California State Representative and Recipient of Distinguished Service Certificate, National Council of Engineering Examiners
  • Distinguished Service Award, California Council of Civil Engineers & Land Surveyors
  • Distinguished Engineering Achievements Award, Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • Engineer of the Year, Engineering Council of the Sacramento Valley
  • Outstanding Structural Engineer, Structural Engineers Association of Central California

Yee has long held a commitment to re-invest in his community for the opportunities he has enjoyed. Towards this goal, he has accumulated an extensive history of contributions of his time, efforts, and finances of worthy causes, in initiating community support and raising funds, and in his participation in activities in support of various cultural, charitable, non-profit, and political community groups and organizations. A partial list of his interests includes:

  • Sacramento Optimist Club
  • Sacramento Asian Elderly Concern
  • Sacramento Asian Community Nursing Home
  • Sacramento Chinese Community Drum & Bugle Corps
  • Amanda Chiang Leukemia Fund
  • Sim Yee Crime Reward Fund
  • Hate Crimes Unity Fund
  • Chinese American Council of Sacramento
  • Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce
  • Asian Peace Officers Association
  • Sacramento Asian Sports Association
  • International flood and earthquake relief
  • Numerous Sacramento cultural, visual and performing arts groups and organizations.

As a devoted family man, Yee and his wife Mary raised four daughters and two sons, all of whom are college graduates with professional credentials. Mary and Jimmie Yee are also the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren, who range in age from infancy to high school senior.

Next Page: Position Paper 1

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Race
March 2000 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


ca/sac Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 11, 2000 11:02
Smart Voter 2000 <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © 2000 League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.